Recently, Councillor Karl Wettstein the chair of city's finance, administration, and corporate services committee asked city taxpayers for help to avoid an "unacceptable" 6.5 per cent property tax hike next year.

Well like any other taxpayer in this city, I have some thoughts on the matter.

First, let's get beyond the whining about the downloading of social programs and services from the province to the city.

Yes, that was a misguided decision by the previous Tory regime in Ontario, but the policy hasn't been substantially reversed by the current government, so it's time to deal with this reality.

Doing so will mean that cuts have to be made, but any educated voter should know that it's not the fault of council and city hall.

They have been given the jurisdiction to fund programs without the proper financial support from the province. That doesn't mean, however, that this gives council and city staff the licence to pass the cost onto the municipal taxpayer through continued, annual tax increases.

So sharpen your pencil, city hall, and make cuts - we won't hold you accountable.

But if you do nothing but pass the costs on, that shows ineffective leadership and you will be held to account.

Where specifically can you cut?

How about charging for all parking, or returning bus service to previous levels? When you are in a budget squeeze you can't do both. Besides, the two plans contradict one another when it comes to the environment.

The city wants to increase bus service to every 20 minutes to encourage people to take public transit, but the city offers two-hour free downtown parking, which makes it easier to take the car. Talk about sucking and blowing at the same time. Right now we can't afford either option.

When you are in a budget crunch, you can't cut your revenues, increase spending and remain solvent. If you want to attract people downtown, have businesses stay open beyond the supper hour. In terms of increased bus service, I think this is a fantastic idea, but can only be put in place if the city can afford to do it -- which it can't.

I would like to retrofit my house with the latest in environmental friendly products, but I can't afford the upfront cost, no matter how much savings can be amortized down the line.

The other area to look at is increasing community user fees.

Taxpayers like myself are already getting a tax break on their kids' sport fees from the federal government. So a fee increase only takes back the discount that parents have been getting.

Our budget crunch will mean that all fees will have to be increased. This only makes sense in times of inflation.

The greater tax pool has subsidized low fees for too long and now it is time for users to pay the true cost.

We also need to have a taxpayer protection plan put in place that permanently limits tax increases to minimum levels -- one per cent or two per cent).

That would force future municipal governments, regardless of political leanings, to work within their means.

Also, let's hope our local elected officials don't play us for fools again with the annual bait and switch game.

In recent years the city has floated a high tax increase only to hear the public yell and scream. The large increase was never going to happen, but it makes a lower increase more palatable and makes people think their elected officials made some tough choices to reduce the budget.

In reality, all we are left with is a delay of fiscal prudence and another unacceptable tax increase.

So council and city staff, enough with the excuses --anything higher than a two per cent increase and you haven't done your job.

Start cutting and making the tough calls. If the voters get mad -- and they will -- just remind them your hand was forced on this.

If they continue to complain, tell them to vote accordingly in the next federal or provincial election.

It's time for showing leadership and spending within our means. Anything else is unacceptable.

Gregory Cawsey is a member of the Guelph Mercury's Community Editorial Board.